#Exhibit of the Month

We find ourselves in the month of April, as we prepare to celebrate Easter-a moveable religious holiday rich in festive rituals and ceremonial activities that place this event at the very heart of Christian spiritual life. The spirit of the Resurrection is beautifully complemented by ten Easter-themed postcards from the heritage of the National Museum of History of Moldova, printed a century ago. These pieces were added to the museum's postcard collection over a decade ago following a successful acquisition; as the fund for Easter-themed illustrations is modest, we are in a constant search for new additions.

These postcards are "extraordinary" in terms of their postal, typographical, and chromatic effects-the primary reason for revisiting this genre of greetings. Unlike "classic" postcards, these are smaller in size (6.5 cm x 11 cm), made of cardboard (with the exception of one piece made of photographic paper in black and white), and feature "vivid" colors. Printed in Romania and Germany, they bear the marks of having been sent and circulated through the post.

The name of the holiday originates from the verb persach, meaning "to pass," a term adopted by the Jews from the Egyptians. It entered the Romanian language through the Byzantine-Latin form Paschae, signifying the "passage through death to life, the victory of life, and liberation from the bondage of sin." Easter is a holiday of tolerance and forgiveness, representing a bridge between the present and the past. The significance of this celebration is conveyed through its symbols, which are also featured on these postcards: Hand-painted eggs, the Easter Bunny and the Lamb, traditional sweet breads (cozonac and pască), biblical scenes related to the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The Easter table also features pască-a ritual food reminiscent of ancient, bloodless "reconciliation" sacrifices. Its preparation is the exclusive task of women, the givers of life, as the leavened dough is considered "alive."

The most significant component of the Easter holiday, however, is the Light. The Ceremony of the Holy Light is associated with the miracle of the light appearing on Easter Sunday at Christ's Tomb in Jerusalem. The candle, often depicted in these images, carries a powerful message; it is with the Resurrection candle that we return home after the midnight religious service. Furthermore, the Easter Bunny represents the rebirth of nature, so eagerly awaited after a harsh winter.

Unlike Christmas, when the announcement and ritual integration of the community into sacred time was the duty of caroling groups, at Easter, "one does not go from house to house." Instead, the ritual meal is organized within each family, symbolizing a direct communion with God.

Virtual Tour

Exhibitions

"A history of the oldest inhabited city in Romania - Constanța"

May 18 – June 30, 2024

The Constanța National History and Archeology Museum, in partnership with the National History Museum of Moldova in Chisinau, Republic of Moldova, organizes on Saturday, May 18, 2024, 1:00 p.m., at the headquarters of the National History Museum of Moldova, the opening of the temporary exhibition: A history of the oldest inhabited city in Romania - Constanța.

The cultural event was prepared by the specialists of the Constanța National History and Archeology Museum: Dr. Sorin Marcel Colesniuc, Dr. Aurel Mototolea, Dr. Tiberiu Potârniche, Dr. Delia Cornea, Dr. Cristian Cealera, Dr. Lavinia Dumitrașcu and Eng. Ada Marcu, in collaboration with the specialists of the National History Museum of Moldova: dr.hab. Eugen Sava and Dr. Livia Ermurachi.

As the title suggests, the temporary exhibition A history of the oldest inhabited city in Romania - Constanta presents, on 30 panels, the history of the city of Constanta, from its foundation to the present day. The panels were organized as follows: In the beginning was the legend; Greek colonization and the Tomis war; The beginnings of Roman rule; The exile of the poet Publius Ovidius Naso to Tomis; Amphitheater, wrestling and gladiators at Tomis; Tomis - the capital of the province of Scythia Minor; The emergence and development of Christianity in the light of archaeological evidence; From Tomi to Constantiana; Küstenge - Constanta. 1800 - 1870; Ottoman Constanta. Religious architecture - mosques and windows; Ottoman Constanta. Secular architecture - Casa Beiului; Constance English; The port in the life of the city - Antiquity; The port in the life of the city - the Ottoman period; The port in the life of the city - innovation and modernity; Royal Constance (2 panels); The city of Constanța and the people of Constanta in the First World War; The general plan of the city of Constanța in the interwar period; Walking through interwar Constanța (3 panels); Constanța - city beaches; Personalities of Constanta; Constanța under the bombings of the Second World War; Constanța - aspects of the urban development in the period 1948 - 1989; The Constanta Museum - emblematic institution of our city; The treasury of sculptures from Tomis; From the collections of the Constanta museum (2 panels).

On behalf of the Museum of National History and Archeology Constanta, scientific researcher Dr. Sorin Marcel Colesniuc will be present at the opening of the temporary exhibition in Chisinau, who will present the work of the team of specialists of the Constanta museum, as well as the history of the city of Constanta from Antiquity to Contemporary .

#Exhibit of the Month

Easter-Themed Postcards

"A history of the oldest inhabited city in Romania - Constanța"

May 18 – June 30, 2024

#Exhibit of the Month